Maruti Suzuki Baleno And Ertiga Get A Big Safety Boost Across Trims
Maruti Suzuki is actively working on improving the safety levels and crashworthiness of its products. The Baleno is the latest model to get the upgrade. Shortly after Toyota made six airbags standard across all variants of the Glanza, Maruti Suzuki has done the same to the Baleno.
All variants now come with six airbags. This update has made the hatchback safer. Maruti Suzuki says that the update translates to a 0.5 per cent hike in the premium hatchback's prices. It is currently priced in the 6.70 - 9.92 lakh price range (all ex-showroom). The revised prices will start at 6.73 lakh and go up to 9.96 lakh rupees for the range-topping variant.
India's own new car safety assessment program- Bharat NCAP, recently crash tested the Baleno. Back then, both the dual and six-airbag versions were evaluated. Both scored four-star ratings. The six-airbag version, however, scored more points in Adult Occupant Protection and in Side Movable Deformable Barrier tests.
In addition to six airbags, the new Baleno also comes equipped with safety features like ABS with EBD, a 360-degree camera, electronic stability control (ESC), rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child seat anchorages.
The Baleno is powered by a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 90 PS and 113 Nm. There is even a CNG version on sale with slightly lower outputs.
Maruti Ertiga Gets Six Airbags
The Ertiga isn't often noted for its safety levels. It had in fact, scored a 1-star rating in the Global NCAP crash tested conducted previously for the South African market. Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) hasn't put the MPV to test yet.
That said, the Maruti Ertiga is a solid performer in the Indian market. In June 2025 alone, it posted sales of 14,151 units. The Tour variant continues to have a strong foothold in the fleet space.
Powering the Ertiga is a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 103hp and 136.8Nm. There is also a CNG version on sale. The outgoing model was launched in 2022, with an entry ex-showroom price of Rs 8.5 lakh.
The Ertiga offers a comfortable cabin and a decent array of features. It comes with the likes of a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, rear AC vents, a 6-speaker ARKAMYS sound system and cruise control.
The safety suite on the new Ertiga consists of 6 airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), hill-hold assist, and a rear parking camera with sensors. The latest upgrade has made six airbags available on all variants of the MPV. It has thus made the lower variants safer than before.
The update has made the vehicle's prices go up by up to 1.4 per cent. Previously, it used to start at 8.96 lakh and go up to 13.25 lakh rupees (all ex-showroom). The revision has pushed the prices into the 9.09-13.44 lakh bracket.
Indian Government's Push For Safer Vehicles
The carmaker's move aligns with the Indian government's vision to have safer vehicles on our roads. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has mandated all new passenger vehicles to have six standard airbags. This will come into effect on October 2025. Manufacturers are actively working to meet this deadline, and are rolling out updated lineups.
India currently has a strong focus on expansion and development of road and highway infrastructure. When these highways and expressways get completed, we will have to switch to safer, stronger cars and SUVs...